Epic Read: In This Land by Matthew Haldeman-Time

Bade, prince of the tiny, overlooked country of Nosupolis,
doesn’t have a plan for his life. His ambitious older brother Tiko, heir to the
throne, seems to have everything under control without Bade or his twin
brother’s help. Bade hopes to marry well and find some way to be a credit to
the crown, but never in his wildest dreams does he expect an invitation to
court the Pharaoh of Orina Anoris, the divine ruler of the most powerful
country in the world. Bade always thought that Tiko would be the one to change
their homeland for the better, but now he has a chance to wed the pharaoh, ally
their two nations through marriage, and do more for Nosupolis than anyone in
centuries. Suddenly whisked away by Prince Orinakin, royal diplomat and
handsome purple-haired child of the gods, Bade finds himself in an exotic land
that dazzles his senses and opens his eyes like never before. The people of
Orina Anoris are uninhibited, expressive, flirtatious, and don’t seem to know
the meaning of sexual repression. The handsome Seven Siblings are no exception.
Boyfriends, lovers, harems–it boggles Bade’s mind to witness a freedom he
never even imagined. But the endless parade of beautiful men pales in
comparison to the Pharaoh Anosukinom. Tall, gorgeous, and physically flawless,
Anosukinom’s beauty is literally perfection. And if that weren’t enough, the
rumors are true: he really is both god and man. Crackling with power,
intimidating yet friendly, he is as unconventional as he is traditionally
Anorian. Daunted in the face of his divinity, Bade isn’t sure if he can win the
heart of a deity, but at the very least he hopes to bring attention to the
plight of his ignored, forgotten country. After being exposed to a vibrant,
colorful new world, nights of sizzling passion, and the possibilities of true
love, how can Bade face the thought of being rejected and returning home? Will
he be able to win the pharaoh’s heart and finally help his people? Experience
the rich, luxurious fantasy world of Orina Anoris only in Matthew
Haldeman-Time’s series, “In This Land,” and watch as eight handsome
brothers try to balance ruling a nation with finding true happiness. Find out
what happens to Bade, Anosukinom, and the sexiest siblings in the world.

The Review

I titled this an epic read, because this is a massive ongoing web serial that is one of the best things I’ve ever read. Now, please don’t let the fact that this stories isn’t complete stop you. This story has been going on for years and its updated EVERY SINGLE Friday/Saturday depending on your time zone. Also, if you haven’t read it before then even if you binge read it’ll probably take you at least 3-4 days (probably more honestly) to be all caught up on this story. There are hundreds of chapters. It does cost $5/per month to read, but that is pocket change compared to what I feel like this story is worth. This story makes me want to be a better person. Why you might ask? Let me tell you,

Love, positivity, and acceptance are the ongoing themes of this whole series. It’s such a long series that it’s hard for me to really explain all that goes on within the story without giving away some serious spoilers and everyone hates spoilers. But, let me tell you what I can. This series is full of lgbtq+ characters and it’s not even seen as a big deal, it’s just accepted as love is love. It smashes some gender norms. There are guys in dress, there are women in men’s clothing and it’s seen as a generally acceptable way to dress. There are people of color though I will say most of the main characters are what I would describe as white. Its sex positive which means that sex is seen as a normal and healthy part of a person’s life without the slut shaming going around. I could continue gushing about it, but those are the big hitters for me. It doesn’t hit every type of diversity in the world, but the message is very clear in this story.

On that note though while I love this series I would not say that it could be categorized as fantasy or paranormal more like perhaps speculative fiction and it would obviously fall in the romance section. This is not like a George R. R. Martin book where there is lots of murder and death and political intrigue. While there are discussions about politics and the negative things that are happening in the countries outside of Orina Anoris it’s not the main focal point. This is a fairly light read in that regard, but I do believe that this book gives you things to think about and consider. There is tension and struggle within this story it’s just more personal than political. You’re guarantee to fall in love with at least one of the brothers and each one is getting or already has their own story with them as the main focus.

This series also has well thought out and detailed world
building. As I’ve mentioned in posts
before I’m a sucker for excellent world building. This series has a multitude
of countries in it and they all have histories to them, different cultures, and
religions. Some countries are more explored than others, but the author has
spent some serious time creating unique places for us to enjoy.

With that all being said I hope you’ll check it out. You can read it here. Also, if you are completely against monthly subscriptions Matthew Haldeman-Time has published some of his series into printed books. You can buy the first one here. A word of warning though, there is a copious amount of the online story that hasn’t been published into print. The author doesn’t seem to plan on releasing printed versions in the near future either so if you want the full story then you’d need to subscribe.